The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-06-01
"jh"piinE" Cotton.
lE. I'm .nmn WrilnI, l

The characteristic work on cotton
farm during the month of May is cot
ton, chopping. Among the many ma
chimes that have been invented to do
this work none has yet been very favor
ably received or generally adopted by
farmers. The operation is one--lkc
cOttOn-p picking that seems to demand
an cvcr-changlng motion AID the cXcr-
clsc OF an c,cr-acting judgment which
cannot Dc matcrialiHcd into IL machine.
SUCH machine, hOwCVcC Is probably
within the possibilities of human lnvcu-
ton. Tho cotton harvester is an undls-
putcd necessity; but it IS not 80 clear
that machine for chopplng, or merely
"Dlocking out" cotton reducing TIC
continuous row of plants to bunchcS-is is
exactly what is needed. Why SOW the
seed 80 rs to secure II continuous row of
plants, and then ut the first operation
proceed to destroy the continuity? On
poor unfcrtiliZcd land, which requires
that the plants should stand very close
in order to make n maximum crop, such
n continuous row is perhaps necessary
but 1t seems an unnecessary waste OF
seed and labor on land which viii bear
the stalks Is inches to two or .hrcc feet
apart. Why not plant the seed on such
land In hills or steps already chopped?
The writer planted his entire crop two
successive years in hills 3x2. feet with
the most satisfactory results. But it is
too late now to discuss the policy of bill
or stcp-planting. The crop is nearly oil
planted and much of it will soon be
ready Ton the first operation
If the soil has been impactcd from the
effect of one on more rains after plant
ing, it il Of the first importance TO break
the crust and let i'll the light and air.
/ The condition OF the land III this respect,
and the necessities of the corn cIop, will
determine whether 1t will be better to
chop before or after r, owing. When
inc ground is in good, Mellow condition,
and comparatively tree from grass We
huyc often found it better to put the
hoes to work in advance of plowing and
as soon as the seed leaf Of the plant is
fully developed. If this plan is adopted
the work Of chopping out should and
may be very rapidly done, the aim be.
ing TO get over the crop i'll a week or ten
days or less. 1t does not pay to con.
sumo the time that would be required tC
thin out TO given number OF plants, OF
to leave each bunch in perfect condi.
tiNh' - 'iO SiOp litS DCtIl "cll NHU
smoothly planted and the ground is mel
low and free from distractions, such ms
clods and stones, hand should 20 in q
kind oil half walk, rarely giving more
than stroke for each bunch Of plants
/ lott. We have seen expert hoe hands &c
over in this way two acres per hand pei
day, and even moro. Remember, tha
tins plan.hocing, or "blocking out
ahead of the plows, requires and assumes
that the cotton should be plowed within
a few days. Generally the cotton croI
needs to be "gone over" with plows OF
hoes AS rapidly as it was planted. L
sometimes occurs that the whole crol
comes up together, however planted. A
such junctIre it is more important t.
get over quickly than to do the worl
(hoc. work. perfectly. The aim should
be to make every stroke of the hoe do it
utmost, rarely striking "twice in til,
same place, thus getting over the croI